Posted by gardenergirl on June 20, 2005, at 21:35:13
In reply to Newsflash! I'm not normal, posted by fallsfall on June 20, 2005, at 20:48:38
Hi sweetie, I'm not normal, btw, either. :). Wait, that normal curve does include outliers, too. Shoot, I think we both ARE normal.
Your session reminds me of one when I was lamenting that I still do avoidance behavior and procrastination, even though we've made progress in therapy. The example I gave was going to the dentist. I had been really good about following up with all the work I needed done, but for some reason I cancelled the last round of work (we had to space it out over 3 years due to insurance caps). So his response was to say "Nobody wants to go to the dentist!".
He really didn't hear what I was saying. I was saying I actually did want to go to the dentist, that I was proud that I had been following up with all of it, because it was a bit overwhelming a couple of years ago to go back to the dentist after more than six years away and to hear all that needed to be done. I was very proud of that, and I was frustrated that I had then cancelled. It is classic GG avoidance behavior. I wish he could have seen this aspect and maybe asked me in what other ways I am avoiding...like oh, say, my dissertation? Instead, I get this flip answer and we move on.
I think maybe you wanted your T to talk more about the anxiety? Your behavior, as you see it, is a symptom of that. Now if you really were not feeling anxious, and rather were just "normally" spending your time that way, I suppose he could "normalize" this behavior. But it sounds like the anxiety is what you were trying to get at.
Grrrrrrr. Why can't they get what we are saying all the time? Oh wait, that would mean I have to do that, too. sigh
Take care,
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:516257
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050615/msgs/516288.html